Series Thread: NBA Finals: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat

[tlance]

Haven't read it yet, but I thought it looked interesting. From the tagline, it seems like the approach is along the lines of what we've always said on here...Lebron's game favors Magic more than Michael.

Not exactly. More about leadership styles. Definitely a pro-LeBron slant to the article, but the author made some interesting points about some of the crazies LeBron has elevated to championship status.

Pretty impressive when you actually look back at his list of teammates post Miami.

 

[trojanfan12]

I just take issue with a Laker fan claiming he is better at pretty much every basketball skill than Giannis when there is almost zero evidence of that.

Who said that? He's a better ballhandler and shooter. Giannis is a better rebounder and as you said, they're about equal on defense (I give Giannis a slight edge there).

You can't go wrong with either one, imo. AD has been playing basketball longer than Giannis has. I think that if he keeps working on his game, Giannis will eventually be the better player...he's just not quite there yet.

 

[trojanfan12]

Not exactly. More about leadership styles. Definitely a pro-LeBron slant to the article, but the author made some interesting points about some of the crazies LeBron has elevated to championship status.

Pretty impressive when you actually look back at his list of teammates post Miami.

I mean, he's gotten JR Smith 2 rings. That pretty well says it all right there. lol

 

[tlance]

Bullshit. Not yet.

AD is the better scorer (he has a 3 point shot), better ballhandler and passer, and I think he's a better defender.....

@trojanfan12

DJ said this which I originally replied to

Basically saying AD is better at every major facet of the game.

 

[trojanfan12]

@trojanfan12

DJ said this which I originally replied to

Basically saying AD is better at every major facet of the game.

lol

DJ gets a little overexuberant sometimes.

 

[DJ]

@trojanfan12

DJ said this which I originally replied to

Basically saying AD is better at every major facet of the game.

Giannis is a better rebounder.....I forgot that aspect.....LOL.

 

[Heatles84]

I mean, he's gotten JR Smith 2 rings. That pretty well says it all right there. lol

I think regardless of where you put Lebron, you have to have the GOAT conversation with him. For those that were putting him merely in the top 10, have to re-adjust rankings. Lebron before this was already 2nd in my book. That's taking full into account Kareem who had 6 rings and Magic with 5. Context matters. Winning a title with your 3rd team as the main guy is pretty difficult to do.

I still put MJ ahead of Lebron for a few reasons. But, I don't know how anyone can realistically not have Lebron as a top 5 bare minimum.

 

[trojanfan12]

Literally nobody thinks that.

It is obvious that AD is a good ball handler.

I just take issue with a Laker fan claiming he is better at pretty much every basketball skill than Giannis when there is almost zero evidence of that.

It is definitively clear that AD is a better shooter. Defense is a toss up. They are probably the 2 best defenders in the NBA.

The rest though?

Nah.

Been trying to think of a word that, imo, defines the difference between them for me and I think I have it.

I think AD's game is more "refined" than Giannis' which, imo, is the result of having played longer. As Giannis plays more and develops more, he will close the gap to the point that Giannis will eventually pass him.

 

[trojanfan12]

I think regardless of where you put Lebron, you have to have the GOAT conversation with him. For those that were putting him merely in the top 10, have to re-adjust rankings. Lebron before this was already 2nd in my book. That's taking full into account Kareem who had 6 rings and Magic with 5. Context matters. Winning a title with your 3rd team as the main guy is pretty difficult to do.

I still put MJ ahead of Lebron for a few reasons. But, I don't know how anyone can realistically not have Lebron as a top 5 bare minimum.

I'm done with the ranking stuff. I'm with Jay Williams. I'm just gonna appreciate the art I've seen and the art I'm currently seeing and leave it at that.

They're all different players and they all bring/brought something unique to the game that made them special.

 

[tlance]

Been trying to think of a word that, imo, defines the difference between them for me and I think I have it.

I think AD's game is more "refined" than Giannis' which, imo, is the result of having played longer. As Giannis plays more and develops more, he will close the gap to the point that Giannis will eventually pass him.

I think that is a good distinction.

AD is more skilled, but it is really the shooting aspect that sets them apart.

Giannis is probably the best athlete in the league and aside from the shooting issues, has a really impressive guard like skill set too.

 

[tlance]

I think regardless of where you put Lebron, you have to have the GOAT conversation with him. For those that were putting him merely in the top 10, have to re-adjust rankings. Lebron before this was already 2nd in my book. That's taking full into account Kareem who had 6 rings and Magic with 5. Context matters. Winning a title with your 3rd team as the main guy is pretty difficult to do.

I still put MJ ahead of Lebron for a few reasons. But, I don't know how anyone can realistically not have Lebron as a top 5 bare minimum.

Honestly?

I don’t know how someone can have him lower than 2 at this point.

 

[bksballer89]

I think that is a good distinction.

AD is more skilled, but it is really the shooting aspect that sets them apart.

Giannis is probably the best athlete in the league and aside from the shooting issues, has a really impressive guard like skill set too.

I'm always going with Giannis over AD until further notice. I've seen Giannis as the leading man and I've seen AD as the leading man

 

[trojanfan12]

I'm always going with Giannis over AD until further notice. I've seen Giannis as the leading man and I've seen AD as the leading man

And neither got to the finals.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

if it has not been posted already, I will post it again....

There are only 7 people in this rarified air of playoff 60% shooting dominance with that many shots taken.

Jordan is not one of them.

Lebron is 3 of them.

 

[Retroram52]

I'm done with the ranking stuff. I'm with Jay Williams. I'm just gonna appreciate the art I've seen and the art I'm currently seeing and leave it at that.

They're all different players and they all bring/brought something unique to the game that made them special.

All this arguing about who is the GOAT and sech. I get a kick out of reading the comments and the criteria used to critique guys in the professional ranks. Things like athleticism and shooting ability versus ball handling and then much of this becomes a moot point when you throw in just the number of championship rings as the primary criteria for greatness. In that case the top guy in the modern era would have to be...

,,,Robert Horry with 7 rings: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007. Then there is Bill Russell and et cetera, in the back-in-the-days group. LOL!

 

[Heatles84]

All this arguing about who is the GOAT and sech. I get a kick out of reading the comments and the criteria used to critique guys in the professional ranks. Things like athleticism and shooting ability versus ball handling and then much of this becomes a moot point when you throw in just the number of championship rings as the primary criteria for greatness. In that case the top guy in the modern era would have to be...

,,,Robert Horry with 7 rings: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007. Then there is Bill Russell and et cetera, in the back-in-the-days group. LOL!

Context, my friend. Horry was the role player on a lot of great teams; was never the main guy or a significant piece - more of a role player.

Russell played on a stack team in an era where competition wasn't exactly high. That's why Russell's often overlooked.

 

[Heatles84]

I'm done with the ranking stuff. I'm with Jay Williams. I'm just gonna appreciate the art I've seen and the art I'm currently seeing and leave it at that.

They're all different players and they all bring/brought something unique to the game that made them special.

Ya, in the end - we can argue Lebron vs MJ for the next 20 years and we'd never have a clear definitive answer. They both were the best players in their era. That's all you can draw from it.

 

[DJ]

I think regardless of where you put Lebron, you have to have the GOAT conversation with him. For those that were putting him merely in the top 10, have to re-adjust rankings. Lebron before this was already 2nd in my book. That's taking full into account Kareem who had 6 rings and Magic with 5. Context matters. Winning a title with your 3rd team as the main guy is pretty difficult to do.

I still put MJ ahead of Lebron for a few reasons. But, I don't know how anyone can realistically not have Lebron as a top 5 bare minimum.

And he has a few seasons left in him....

 

[Shanemansj13]

I think regardless of where you put Lebron, you have to have the GOAT conversation with him. For those that were putting him merely in the top 10, have to re-adjust rankings. Lebron before this was already 2nd in my book. That's taking full into account Kareem who had 6 rings and Magic with 5. Context matters. Winning a title with your 3rd team as the main guy is pretty difficult to do.

I still put MJ ahead of Lebron for a few reasons. But, I don't know how anyone can realistically not have Lebron as a top 5 bare minimum.

Some people dont realize that. Spending your whole career with a team and winning...that’s great. But leading 3 different teams to championships with totally different coaching staffs, players, etc. is just insane...and to do it in year 2 with every team. Taking 5 different coaches to the Finals. Lebron elevates everyone he plays with.
i’ve had MJ at 1 forever but I feel like I might not say the same when LBJ retires. I feel like we could be legitamately talking about a 1a and 1b situation

 

[Retroram52]

Context, my friend. Horry was the role player on a lot of great teams; was never the main guy or a significant piece - more of a role player.

Russell played on a stack team in an era where competition wasn't exactly high. That's why Russell's often overlooked.

That's the point Heatles. All the arguing often ignores context and that is why I posted what I did.